Inflatable conduit stopper



April 25, 1933. I l p. GOODMAN 1,906,151

INFLATABLE CONDUIT STOPPER- Filed Feb. 25, 1950 gigi IINVENTOR Pafrwei! Goodman BY. wv

' ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 25,l 1933 Umm-rms 'DATRIOK AGOODMAN, OF BROOKLYN, Niiw YO'nxjMABY GOODMAN ELIZABETH A'.

GOODMAN, ADMINISTRATRIOES or SAID DATRIOK GOODMAN, DEOEASED; vassIeNoRs 'To FRANCIS GREEK. lGOODMAN ANDELIZADET'H A.' GOODMAN, on BROOKLYNNEvv "f 'YORK y INFLATADLE cONDUI'il s'roirnn Application mea February 25,l i936; fs'eri'rNol 43'1,a1s`.

This invention relates `to inflatable conduit Stoppers in which an inflatable element for stopping the low of fluid through a conduit is introduced in a deflated condition through a taphole in the conduit by means of a rigid tubular` handle, through which handle pressure is subsequently applied to the in.

terior of the inflatable element for inflating the same.

It has been found in practice that in attempting to deflate the inflatable element for withdrawal from the conduit through the taphole, that not infrequently the element when partially deflated has a tendency to turn backward at its unsupported end, thereby causing the device to jam in the conduit and render its removal difficult.

The present invention, therefore, aims to provide in combination With-the inflatable element, means for limiting the longitudinal contraction of the linflatable element and which also functions to prevent the turning of the forward end of the same backward during the deflating operation.

More specifically, the invention comprehends in an inflatable conduit stopper which is positioned and removed by means of a rigid handle at its rear end, telescop-ically associated means located internally of the inflatable element of the stopper which serves to support and maintain the forward end of the element in axial alignment with the rear end wall, permitting of sullicient relative movement of the forward and rear ends to accomplish the purposes of the invention.

Other objects reside in the comparative simplicity of construction of the device, the economy with which it may be produced and the general efficiency derived therefrom.

With Vthe above recited and other objects in view, reference is had `to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same. i

In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional view through a conduit illustrating an inflatable stopper actively positioned therein.

- `:Figure Qis anenlarged flongitudinalfsectional view through the stopper. .Y Figure 3 is a view similar to-Figurel'illustrating the manner in which thestopper is inserted or removed'from the conduit. 'l Referring to the drawing by characters of reference,..lthe stopper includes an inner inflatablenbag or element 5 Of :rubber or an equivalent material having an outer covering 6 of av relatively inelastic material Vwhich serves to definitely limit theeXpanSiOnA of the innerelement wheninflated As is common to'devices of this character, the inner" element is provided at Oneend,:hereinafter-termed the rear. end,'-with a tubular stem 7 which is suitably attached to a tubular handleuS extending through the stem and outwardly therefrom. rlhe tubular handle 8 is provided with anoflset portion 9 joined to the handle 8 by an obtusely'angled partflO, whereby the portion Symay lie axial-ly within the c011- `duit A while the portion 9 is disposedexternally` of the conduit with the partV l()v extend.; ing through the taphole'B in the conduit. The portion 9may beprovided with'asuit able pressure 'gauge 11 and with a cutoff valve l2, while itsV free rend may be threaded'` or otherwise formed with means 13 for estab= lishing a communicating connection 4with a pressure'supplyingmeans for the purpose of introducingpressure to,th"einterior of.y the `inflatable element'5 after the same hasbeen initially inserted inV the conduit in a ,deflated condition;VV V' .1 ;A .1 As previously stated, unless some means is devised for supporting and'maintainingthe forwardzendA 14 of the element 5 :in axial alignmentwithA the rear stemend 7, there is commonly a tendency for the forward. end to turn-backward duringV the deflation of the element for the purpose of removing the same from the conduit In order, therefore, to provide means for preventing this undesirable action, the tubular handle portion 8 is formed with an extending extremity 15v of considerable length, which 4protrudes for` wardly and axially vinto the element 5. lThe-extremity `1'5 extends forwardly beyond-the` longitudinal center of the element, preferably two-thirds or. threequarters of the length of the element. A guide rod 16 is anchored concentrically to the forward end 14 of the element 5 and extends rearwardly and is telescopically relceived by the extremity 15 of the handle portion 8. Obviously, this arrangement allows for relative longitudinal movement between the stem end 7 and the forward end 14 of the element While preventing the forward end of the element from turning backward during the deflating operation. In order to avoid interference with the introduction of the in-V flating pressure to the element', the guide rod 16 loosely fits within the extremity 15 and the extremity 15 is formed with a plurality of openings or apertures 17. The guide rod 16 may be anchored to the forward end 14 of the element 5 and to the covering 6 in any desired manner, but as illustrated, the anchored end of the stem is threaded asv at 18 and extends through aligned apertures in the bag 5 and its covering 6 with washers 19 and 2O disposed exteriorly and interiorly and with nuts 21 and 22 disposed exteriorly and interiorly.

From the foregoing, it will thus be seen that an inflatable conduit stopper has been devised which is provided with'means that serve to prevent jamming of the same either during its insertion into the conduit or its removal therefrom.

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable conduit stopper of the character described including an inflatable body having a rigid tubular handle communieating with the interior of the body and protruding from one end thereof for introducing an internal pressure thereto and for exhausting the pressure therefrom and means within the inflatable body for supporting and maintaining the opposite ends thereof in axial alignment while permitting free limited relative movement of said ends toward and away from each other, said means comprising an inwardly projecting portion of the tubular handle and a guide rod anchored concentrically to the opposite end of the inflatable body and telescopically slidable within the inwardly extending portion of the tubular handle.

2 In a conduit stopper adapted to be introduced through a taphole in the conduit, said stopper including an inflatable elongated body having substantially semi-spherical opposite ends, means located within said body for maintaining the ends in axial alignment while. permitting limited free relative movement of the ends of the body toward and away from each other whereby to prevent turning of the leadingfend backward when deflating the body preparatory to effecting its removal from the conduit.

3. In a stopper including an inflatable ele- `of February, A. D. 1930.

' v PATRICK GOODMAN.

ment adapted to be introduced through a ta-phole in theconduit and subsequently inflated, means located within the inflatable ele- 

